South Africans encouraged to undergo hypertension screenings

Hypertension or high blood pressure is referred to as the “silent killer” and is more common than many people realize.

In observance of World Hypertension Day on Wednesday, the National Department of Health encouraged South Africans to get regular screenings for hypertension. The global campaign, observed every year on May 17, aims to raise awareness about this chronic illness. This year, it was marked under the theme “Measure your blood pressure accurately, control it, live longer.”

Hypertension is a condition in which a person suffers from high blood pressure, and in the long term, it can increase the risk of chronic kidney disease, strokes, heart failure, renal complications, and early death.

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The department said that hypertension was one of the ‘most serious risk factors for death” and was responsible for almost 13% of all deaths globally, and almost 1 in 3 adults in South Africa lived with high blood pressure.’

Department spokesperson Foster Mohale said: “It is responsible for one in every two strokes and two in every five heart attacks. Hypertension mainly affects adults, however, increased rates of obesity and related risk factors, including obesity, diabetes, and tobacco use are resulting in younger persons presenting with hypertension.

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“Uncontrolled high blood pressure raises the risk for heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death and disability.”

Mohale added that the relationship between salt and high blood pressure was well documented since high levels of salt intake were linked to hypertension, which in turn was one of the causes of stroke, cardiovascular disease and kidney disease, among others.

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“While the country’s salt reduction approach has inspired the world, much more needs to be done to reduce salt intake and to encourage the food industry to reduce levels of salt in food,” he said.

The good news is that this life-threatening condition can be prevented if you keep your blood pressure under control regularly. It is recommended that South Africans undergo regular screenings due to the fact that most people do not show symptoms unless they are ill.

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